Inflammation
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| When you talk about your pain or symptoms, does your
doctor automatically write out a prescription? Or even worse, say "it's
old age," or "you just have to live with it?" You could be suffering
with inflammation and not even be aware of it. Most illnesses and
painful conditions trace some portion of their misery to inflammation.
If you've been afflicted with pain and disease, you will find
information here that can change your life. You must assume
responsibility for your own health. Your doctor is too busy to focus a
lot of attention on each patient, and probably isn't aware of the
latest advances in natural healing. You must be a combination of
Sherlock Holmes and Ralph Nader,a relentless detective and courageous
advocate in order to unravel the causes of your problems and get the
best care possible. If that sounds like too much work, just think of
living your entire life sick, exhausted and in pain. That's a lot
harder. This website will
serve as your ally in the
journey through the
minefield of health care. You'll find useful, reliable information
about
inflammation, which is a factor in almost every disease and condition.
You'll discover valuable insight about the role of inflammation in
acute conditions like a pulled muscle or a bump on the head and chronic
conditons such as arthritis and heart disease. We'll examine conditions
like chronic pain and even vocal cord problems in singers and public
speakers. The mainstream
medical view of inflammation is
astonishingly
limited. The medical profession looks at health through
pharmaceutically tinted lenses. If you are suffering with pain and
illness, you know this first hand. Many drugs for inflammatory
conditions have consequences for your health that are far worse than
the initial complaint. Some can even kill you. Safe, natural remedies
are often ignored.
My name is Janice Schwartz and I've been a licensed massage therapist for 19 years. I began searching for answers outside the mainstream medical box while I was attending the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy back in 1987. My environment, stress and diet were too big a challenge for my immune system. I experienced constant headaches accompanied by neck and shoulder pain. I had a condition called torticollis. My head was turned to one side because the muscles in my neck were in painful spasm. I wore a neck brace and lived on aspirin. I couldn't sleep and was exhausted all the time. A rheumatologist
diagnosed me with fibromyalgia and
prescribed Xanax, an addictive
anti-depressant. He said I would have to take it for the of my life.
That was the final straw. I was embarking on an exciting new career
helping people in pain. I didn't plan on being one of them. I started
reading every book and newsletter on nutrition and health I could get
my hands on. I changed my diet and started meditating again.
Supplements became my good friends because they helped me to get my
life back. A homeopathic physician prescribed remedies for sleep.
Exercise was always apart of my life so I just kept doing it, neck
brace and all. It didn't take long to notice big changes.
This experience gave me empathy for my clients that I never would have otherwise had. It also gave me a wealth of knowledge that I could share with them. I've witnessed remarkable results from simple changes. Now it's time to share the results of my journey on a wider scale. Together we will look at the causes of inflammation and how to quiet it safely. Insight without action means nothing. There are many risk free alternatives to prescription and over the counter drugs for inflammation. They may not have the instantaneous effect you're accustomed to, but they won't destroy your stomach or kill you either. Often, many products can be used for the same condition. Each person is unique. Some people respond better to one supplement than another. Sometimes multiple supplements are more effective than a single one. You need to find what works for you. Do not discontinue
your medications without consulting
your physician.
But if your doctor is not receptive to learning about alternatives, you
may want to consider talking to a practitioner who is more open minded.
Diet and lifestyle are huge contributors to inflammation. Many so called healthy foods cause pain and disease you would never associate with diet. Stress is another
biggie. It can wreak havoc with all
your body's
systems and create more inflammation. Stress will interrupt your
digestion and can aggravate exisitng medical problems. That's why you
always feel worse during or right after times of stress.
There are no magic bullets. Taking a few supplements won't make up for a junk food diet and a stressful lifestyle. It will help, but at best, you'll be playing catch up. It's like bailing water from a boat with a hole in it. Your actions and
thoughts can lead to health, well being
and a better life. Or they can lead to pain, disease and misery.
Transformation requires an open mind and some work. But when your pain
diminishes or disappears and your mood and energy start to bubble over,
the changes you've implemented become a way of life. And you wouldn't
have it any other way. |